Fireworks blamed for 10-acre brush fire

Fireworks are believed to be the cause of a weekend brush fire that took more than two hours to extinguish and burned through 10 acres of prairie grass in Orland Park, officials with the Orland Fire Protection District said Monday.

“We can pretty much confirm that it was illegal fireworks that created this brush fire,” Fire Chief Ken Brucki said.

An Orland Park police officer reported seeing fireworks above a grassy area near 143rd Street between Wolf Road and Creek Crossing Drive Saturday, said Battalion Chief William Bonnar. Fire crews were called to the same open, tallgrass field about 9:40 p.m. Saturday after several reports from area residents about a grass fire. Fireworks were also recovered from the scene.

“There was probably an acre on fire when we initially arrived,” Bonnar said. “When we were all done, it was about 10 acres burned.”

No homes or structures were damaged. One firefighter suffered a minor injury that did not require hospitalization.

Officials shut down 143rd street during the blaze because smoke was obstructing vision and creating unsafe driving conditions, Bonnar said. Crews returned at 4 a.m. and again at 8 a.m. to deal with hot spots that flared up again.

Orland Park police officials said no one was cited in connection with the fire, but the incident is under investigation.